How many days does it take for the fever from acute mastitis to go away?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on April 03, 2025
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The fever associated with acute mastitis can subside within a few days, but it needs to be evaluated through ultrasound and a complete blood count; these tests can be performed in the breast department of a standard hospital. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, temporary fever reduction is possible, but inflammation can cause fever to recur. In such cases, local warm and moist compresses are recommended, and injections of saline combined with penicillin can be administered to help reduce inflammation.

Systemic antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins can be used. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect infants, the use of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfa drugs, and metronidazole should be avoided. After three days of intravenous treatment, a follow-up complete blood count should be conducted to determine whether anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be discontinued.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie
Breast Surgery
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What department should I go to for acute mastitis?

What department to see for acute mastitis is a very common question. Acute mastitis often refers to the inflammation of the mammary glands during breastfeeding or pregnancy. Of course, this also includes breast injuries from physical trauma or parasites. Early-stage acute mastitis can manifest changes such as mild local pain and swelling, and possibly fever without other significant symptoms. Therefore, the early stage of acute mastitis can be quite confusing. In fact, one should visit the Breast Surgery department, Thyroid Breast Surgery, or Breast Thyroid Surgery department in major hospitals. If these specialties are not available, it is advisable to consult a doctor who has received advanced training in relevant fields at higher-level hospitals, typically a general surgery or gynecology specialist.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Treatment methods for acute mastitis

The treatment methods for acute mastitis start with stopping breastfeeding. For those with mild symptoms or less severe conditions, breastfeeding can continue, but it is not advisable to breastfeed from the affected breast. Instead, a breast pump can be used to express the milk. Secondly, the breast can be supported with a bra. Thirdly, for local redness and swelling, hot compresses can be applied, or ichthyol ointment can be used topically, as well as Levonorgestrel topical application. If blood tests show elevated levels, systemic antibiotics should be used, with the choice of penicillins and cephalosporins for symptomatic treatment. If an ultrasound shows an abscess formation, it is recommended to perform an abscess incision and drainage procedure, or, if it's deeper, a thick needle can be used for aspiration to draw out the abscess.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie
Breast Surgery
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Which department should I go to for acute mastitis?

For acute mastitis, one should first consult the Department of Mammary Surgery or Thyro-Mammary Surgery. When some hospitals lack a specialized breast surgery department, patients typically consult the general surgery department or gynecology department. If it is during the night or none of the specialized departments are available, then the emergency surgery department should be consulted. Thus, there are multiple relevant departments for acute mastitis. In larger hospitals with specialized departments, one can directly consult the Department of Mammary Surgery or Thyro-Mammary Surgery. During off-hours, nights, weekends, or other emergency periods, it is appropriate to consult the emergency surgery department.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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The causes of acute mastitis include

The causes of mastitis are firstly bacterial invasion and secondly the accumulation of milk. The accumulation of milk mainly occurs during breastfeeding, due to the position of holding the child or unintentional bumps by the child, which cause damage to the milk ducts, constriction of the ducts, leading to a large amount of milk being trapped inside the ducts. Since milk is an excellent culture medium, it results in bacterial growth. Bacterial invasion usually occurs through cracked or fissured nipples, allowing bacteria to enter the milk ducts and into the breast tissue, causing mastitis. Another situation is a decrease in the body's immune system, for example, due to poor sleep or emotional stress. These are the main causes of acute mastitis.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Early treatment of acute mastitis

In the early stages of mastitis where there is pain but no redness and swelling, applying heat and then having a lactation masseur clear any residual milk can be effective. However, if symptoms like high fever and chills occur, along with localized redness and swelling, it is advised to go to the hospital to have a complete blood count and an ultrasound. If the leukocyte count is under 10,000 and there is localized swelling, topical application of Rifanuo and oral anti-inflammatory medication can be curative, but it is necessary to stop breastfeeding. If the leukocyte count exceeds 10,000, intravenous antibiotics may be required, alongside cessation of breastfeeding. Then, using a breast pump to extract the milk can help in healing. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)